Stem Cell Research

So Bush is going to use his first veto to block a stem cell research bill. A bill that the Senate and the majority of the American people want. But his ultra right wing, loony fringe Republican core vote demand that he vetoes, so he vetoes.

I have some problems with stem cell research, as I have problems with a variety of moral issues. I can never look at them as just black and white but the passing of a bill banning the growing and aborting of foetuses simply for research helps to allay a fear of harvesting of foetuses. John Kerry suggested at the time of the 2004 election that embryos which had been discarded after IVF treatment could be used - this seemed like an eminently sensible suggestion to me.

Bush claims he is against stem cell research because "murder is wrong". A principled view. I don't entirely agree but it is based on a firm principle.

I look forward to his announcement of a presidential decree halting all executions in the United States.

British Summer Time

I had the ultimate British summer experience last night.

Stuck on a roasty hot train which didn't move for about fifteen minutes, a mumbling guard on the tannoy that you couldn't understand and the only thing I had to fan myself with to keep cool was a leaflet about a bloody signallers strike.

Its too hot to be in a non air conditioned office on Gray's Inn Road. I want to be by the pool in Barbados sipping a cocktail.....

Life Experience Test

Found this at Mrs Aginoth. A list of 150 key life experiences and all you have to do is bold the ones you have achieved. Depressing how many remain unbolded.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it (every day to my husband and parents)
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped (and never will)
11. Visited Paris (Have been three times, don't know I would be desperate to go back)
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (depends how big is huge. Celtic vs Aberdeen at Parkhead was big enough for me)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip on a hot air balloon (would love to though - over the Masaai Mara)
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Got drunk on champagne. (one sip and I'm a giggly wreck)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment (most days actually)
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced (and been taken care of when drunk)
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland (and the nuns in Kilkenny DO know the best pubs)
52. Been heartbroken for longer than when you were in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (no, three hours was enough - I was an elf who was in love with a goblin with a 4 foot tongue.)
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days (3 days in hospital when they forgot to feed me)
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest (I was Dopey from the Seven Dwarves)
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert" (nope, but was invited to be a stand-in for an election rehearsal programme. I was Malcolm Rifkind and Kirsty Wark was mean to me)
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror.
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country (can't even ride a bike)
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived.
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth (and helped to make sure the runt was fed and survived)
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari (It was a normal safari, but lots of photos taken, that counts right?)
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions (if there have been any I've skipped them all)
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office (no, but have been a campaign director for several people elected to public office)
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146: Dyed your hair
147: Been a DJ
148: Shaved your head
149: Caused a car accident
150: Saved someone's life

I won't tag anyone, but if you do do this, let me know in the comments and I will link to you here.

Jo Salmon
Paul Burgin
Lobster Blogster
Samantha

Greyhounds

A horrible story in the news today and over the weekend about a man who is alleged to have killed over 10,000 greyhounds when they reach the end of their working life.

Although I have been to the dogs a couple of times and enjoyed it, there was always in the back of my mind the knowledge that once a greyhound's racing life was over it was unceremoniously dumped. I just didn't realise that it was done so cruelly.

One step that the government can take to prevent this kind of thing happening again is to legislate to ensure that only licensed operator ie Vets or Abbatoirs can legally kill animals and not just anyone with a bolt gun. The National Greyhound Racing Club also has a role to monitor the activities of its members and not allow trainers/owners who use such services to race. Self-regulation must work hand in hand with government regulation.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Louise Thirteen Things I've Done Since Last TT 1. Been to Latvia. My mum was really worried about me going all that way on my own, but I quite enjoyed it. And it was work so I couldn't really get out of it. 2. Had another violin lesson. Slowly getting there. I can almost play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Royal Albert Hall - here I come.... 3. Been to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Great film - daft but great. 4. Started to watch the West Wing Series 6 on DVD. I love the WW, but am really bad at making time to watch things when they are on TV, so have a whole collection of TV series DVDs which I still have to get round to watching. 5. Watched the World Cup final. I was the kiss of death at this tournament - first I supported Australia, then England, then Brazil, then France... Next year I'm going to have to support Rangers for the league - it's the only chance Celtic have of winning. 6. Considered starting a diet. Only considered it though. I think once the house is empty of junk food I'll have to get on with it. My trousers were tighter than was decent for work yesterday. 7. Manned an Amnesty International stall in the local High Street. We were particularly highlighting the case of a Burmese teacher imprisoned for life because her husband is a pro-democracy campaigner. 8. Took part in the 2 minute silence for victims of the London Tube and Bus bombings on 7th July. 9. Daydreamed incessently about going on holiday. I want to go back to Barbados. 10. Watched Big Cat Week on BBC1. The team are following Big Cats on the Massai Mara including the cutest cheetah cub ever. 11. Decided to join a reading group. My first meeting is tomorrow night. 12. Had my brother-in-law and his family over to stay for the weekend. 13. Went to see Billy Joel in concert. It was fabulous. Fantastic. Brilliant. Can't rave enough about how good it was. I've wanted to see him live for about 15 years and boy, it was worth the wait. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! These nice people popped by to say hello - go visit them. Crayonsetc Red Wendy Mrs Aginoth Chanda Natalie Army Wife Carmen KT Cat Lil Duck Duck Minerva Jane Pilot Mom Amy L Powers Stacy Susan Pink Chihuhua Princess Lady Jane Kailani

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Good News! Bad News!

The Good....

The Government's ID card scheme may be in tatters after the process of tendering out the software suppliers has been put back indefinitely. Great news. We don't need ID cards, we don't need to track our people. Hopefully this will be postponed for so long that the Conservatives will get into power and put an end to the nonsense claims that we need ID cards to fight terrorism and crime. Actually, we need more police and intelligence services to fight terrorism and crime, the money that was going towards ID cards can now be allocated to that.



The Bad....

The World Conservation Union has announced that the West African Black Rhino now appears to be extinct. All searches for signs of the sub-species have proved unsuccessful turning up only signs of poaching. This is news that actually makes me feel sad - we are losing so many of our wonderful animal and plant species all in the name of progress. It is thought that there may only be four Northern White Rhinos left, let's cross our fingers and hope they make it.

Time to think the unthinkable?

Two years ago, one year ago even, if you had asked me my views on All Women Shortlists for Parliamentary Selection I would have bristled indignantly and launched into a long diatribe about how un-necessary they are. But now I'm not so sure.

In 2005 only 17 of Conservative MPs were women - that's about 8.5%. 8.5% is a derisory figure in the 21st Century. The Conservative Party wants to represent the entire country, yet its Parliamentary Party looks nothing like the whole country. It is almost exclusively a white, male, heterosexual, middle class body. And some of those white, heterosexual, middle class men are excellent MPs and representatives of the Conservative Party who are undoubtedly the best people for the job. But some aren't. Some are bed-blockers, some are arrogant, some turn voters off.

Acknowledging the problem David Cameron established the A-List of candidates with 50% of members of this list being women. Although there are problems with the A List I generally like the idea but it doesn't seem to have worked. In the ten selections since the A-List was established only 2 women have been selected - 20%, hardly great steps forward. In several selections the final three have consisted of two women and one man and there are suspicions that this is a deliberate ploy to split the pro-female vote and ensure a male candidate. It wouldn't surprise me.

I have been involved in selections where looking at a female CV members of the panel will sniff about her being pushy, a similar male CV being regarded as dynamic. I have known one woman to be rejected because she sent her children to private school and by doing so wouldn't be able to understand the needs of parents with children at comprehensives. None of the men were asked what schools their children went to.

I have been interviewed for jobs in the Conservative Party and been asked about my outside life and where I expect to be in 5 years time. Nothing wrong with those questions until you realise that none of the male candidates were asked the same questions and then alarm bells start to ring.

There is still an inherent sexism in the Conservative Party with many of the worst culprits being women and its now time to ask whether looking at the practicalities of All Women Shortlists should be considered.

I know all the arguments against and agree with them. Women don't want to get a job or seat without proving their merit. I don't want mediocre women to be selected as Conservative Party candidates in preference to well qualified and impressive men. But the problem at the moment is that women are not being judged on their merits and mediocre men are being selected in preference to well qualified and impressive women.

I don't know that AWS are the answer, but we can no longer reject them out of hand confident that good women will claw their way through the process. It isn't happening and the Conservative Party has to address this problem strongly.

Conservative Home runs an excellent service updating candidate selections.

I am a Muppet

I forgot to take my camera to Riga which was a real shame because some of the city is truly beautiful and the freedom statue which managed to survive both Nazi and Soviet occupation is breath-taking.

Oh well, will just have to persuade my boss to send me back.

Full Marks

... go to Tesco in Leatherhead.

The security guard refused to let a topless bloke into the store. I was delighted to see that. It's one of my bugbears, men thinking it's ok to wander round a food shop with their clothes off. It is offensive and unhygienic.

I will be going back there.

Light Blogging Next Week

Off to Latvia for work.

It certainly isn't a bad job when you're paid to go to Jerusalem and Riga for work. I guess some photos will probably follow...

Class

A couple of Labour bloggers, Antonia Bance and Kerron Cross, are having a bit of a spat at the moment which started with a discussion about All Women Shortlists but it now seems to have developed into a discussion about class and how it is defined.

My background is solidly working class. My dad was a bus inspector and my mum a housewife. We lived in a council house in an area of Glasgow which is one of the most deprived. I went to the local comprehensive. I had two holidays before the age of 18 because that's all my parents could afford.

I then went to University (only one of three from my year at school) and immediately got a job working for the Conservative Party. I left there after five years and got a job in a charity. My salary now is almost 3 times what my dad earned when he was made redundant - although I still can't even consider buying a house. I live in a two-car family and go on good holidays - in the past three years I have been to Barbados, Kenya and Cuba. I like going out to dinner and the theatre. I would appear to be middle class.

So what am I? I don't know and that's one of the reasons I don't like categorising people by "class" - it doesn't take into account individual circumstances and ghettoises people in one of three very indiscriminate categories.

But I would like to know - background or current status, which is more important?

Idiot SNP

I always knew SNP members were morons. Now there is conclusive proof. My poor dad came last in the Glasgow listings for the Scottish Parliament elections next year. He would make a better MSP than any of the rest particularly that bloody idiot Sandra White, now he'll just have to go out and win Glasgow Shettleston First Past the Post.

He knew he was never going to get elected, but bottom of the pile is just rubbish.

I am very narked off.

A win - but a wasted opportunity

So Bob Neill won then. I'm not sure that it was ever in real doubt, although the sharp fall in the majority surprised me. But the Bromley & Chislhurst by-election was a wasted opportunity which so nearly went badly wrong.

The death of Eric Forth allowed the Party to show how far it had progressed both in PR and professional terms. Instead it was a shambolic disaster. Before I start let me just give a health warning - I wasn't there, I'm making all my comments from what I have read and heard. In other words my judgements are based on the same info that the majority of punters base their judgements on.

1 It was the perfect opportunity to show that the A-list had teeth and that it would change the face of the Conservative Party. Instead the local Association dug their heels in and selected a white, middle-aged, pin-stripe wearing solicitor. As I read on another site - he looked like a Tory from the 80s. A lot of middle-aged white men may be the best choice for a seat. I have my doubts in this case, and so it seems do the people of B&C.

2 The World Cup poster looked brilliant. It was a great theme and showed a bit of humour, style, awareness of life outside politics. Then got spoiled by the fact that a copyrighted image had been used without permission. The kind of amateur mistake that shouldn't happen with so many people on board.

3 Talking of amateur - why were trainee agents running sector offices? Of course it was right to put trainee agents into the by-election. But running a sector office is a tough, stressful job for fully qualified and experienced agents, why was one trainees first day in the job (literally) running their own sector office? Put your best and most experienced people in charge and let the new guys learn from their experiences.

4 David Cameron is the most popular Conservative Party leader in decades. Why didn't he feature prominently in the campaign and the literature? Yes people vote on local issues but if you have an asset you damn well use it.

5 The bloody nomination fiasco. What the hell possessed Bob Neill to sign a declaration of nomination saying that he had read the House of Commons Disqualification Act and wasn't disqualified from standing when he damn well was disqualified as a member of a Strategic Health Authority. Thank God the Authority is being disbanded today or we would be looking at another by-election - or worse had "votes thrown away" been notified which would have allowed the Lib Dems to take a petition to the High Court and very possibly be awarded the win. Knowing that the SHA was being abolished why didn't he just resign the day his nomination papers were lodged. It was stupid and arrogant. He deserved to lose for that alone. Election Law is there for a reason.

6 Ungracious speech. Yes, yes, yes the Lib Dems are the smuggest, dirtiest fighters in politics. But you won. You looked like a bitter, twisted, angry, Nasty Party member. Not a good first speech.

So what's the answer? I don't know how we have more diverse candidates selected without removing the autonomy of local associations, but some of the mistakes made were just stupid. Upgrade, don't downgrade the campaigning department of CCHQ. Start to treat Agents as the professionals you love to claim that they are. Make sure that Agents Training encompasses more knowledge of election law. Use the brightest and the best at all times. Set up a dedicated by-election team who all know what is going on.

Phew - that's perhaps enough ranting for a Friday morning - time to go do some work.

The End is Nigh??

Released Foreign Prisoner commits murder

Will this hasten the end of St Tony? While I don't think every foreign prisoner should necessarily be deported, this will surely be another news cycle that will be very damaging for the Government.

Still, no doubt Dr Reid will come up with a tabloid friendly policy to try to cover it up.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen TV Shows I Love

1. The West Wing
If only every politician was like Jed Bartlett...

2. 24
I love Kiefer Sutherland in this, but face it - you'd never want to work in CTU.

3. House
House really is a Mr Grumpy-Pants, but that's why we love him.

4. The A-Team
My favourite TV show as a kid - I had the biggest crush on Dirk Benedict.

5. Spooks
Losing its way slightly, but as long as Harry stays in it's ok. (Called MI-5 in the US)

6. Friends
The best comedy ever. Period.

7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
And Spike became my favourite from the moment he first graced the screen.

8. Judge John Deed
Ah, if only every Judge was like John Deed....

9. Everybody Loves Raymond
I have a fear of living too close to my in-laws and this is exactly why. Marie would be a saint in comparison.

10. Doctor Who
The new Russell T Davies series have been great and Billie Piper has been a revelation. It's about time there was a seriously sexy Doctor and David Tennant fits the bill.

11. Any nature series by David Attenborough
The greatest TV natural historian. Life in the Freezer is a masterpiece.

12. Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere
Peter Kay's funniest characters.

13. The Professionals
This is how the security services should act (or over-act). Bad perms and fast cars.

Everyone here has said hi. Go visit them.

1. Mommy at Home
2. Reverberate58
3. Red
4. Carmen
5. Dawn
6. Susan
7. Christine
8. Mrs Cranky Pants
9. tlc
10. Pink Chihuahua Princess
11. Wrigley
12. Norma


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Who Dies Then?

JK Rowling has admitted that two characters are to be killed off in the final Harry Potter book. So who will it be?

My guesses are:

Voldemort - after all, no matter how savage and sad the final battle must be, good must ultimately win.
and
Neville Longbotton - who'll die in a brave but ultimately foolish attempt to avenge his parents and save his friends.

I am going to stick my neck out and say that I'm fairly sure that Harry, Hermione and Ron will all survive.

I also wouldn't be surprised if others including Mr Weasley die. Of course I could be totally wrong. Would welcome other thoughts and theories.

Farewell the Socceroos

So Australia are out of the World Cup. I suppose I'll have to support England now. Australia really were stars of the World Cup and were the better team today - pity they didn't get the ball in the back of the net.

Cheating Italian cretins. There is no way that was a penalty - the bampot fell over and they cheated their way to the quarter-finals. So I'll now be supporting England and whoever is playing against Italy.

Moaning Wummin Tennis Players

Wimbledon starts today. I love Wimbledon and between this and the World Cup I'll be spending most of my time watching sport over the next couple of weeks. But it's time for the annual whine from women tennis players about inequality of pay and how they should be paid the same as their male counterparts.

Why?

At Wimbledon a man's match is the best of five sets, a woman's is the best of three. Women don't do the same job as men in this particular tournament. In those tournaments where both men and women play the best of three sets then of course the pay should be exactly the same, but at Wimbledon men are paid more because they do more work.

Women's matches are best of three because it is regarded that women don't have the physical strength or stamina to cope with five sets - that is patently nonsense, I wouldn't like to tell Venus or Kim that they had less stamina than Andy Roddick because I very much doubt it's true - but they can't have it both ways.

If women played five set matches they should be paid the same as men, but they don't. £30,000 less for potentially hours and hours less work... not a bad deal.

Let's not worry about how much money very very rch people earn, but focus on the fact that a woman who works full time will earn 17% less than a man in full time work and that women are still working in the lowest paid jobs in Britain. Why do some sectors such as Banking have gender pay gaps of over 40%?

So Venus et al, while I believe strongly in equal pay for equal work, excuse me if I don't shed a tear for you earning only £625,000 for two weeks work.

There Is A God

Was at a party on Saturday night and one of the other girls there was the type who makes normal humans sick. Really a very pretty girl, slim, long blonde hair and she seemed like a very nice girl. Enough to make you scream. Then I noticed her greyish bra strap. That made me feel much better. Even the perfect are only human, there is hope for the rest of us after all.

Graham Poll - Send Him Home or Not?

On balance: Not.

We all make mistakes, sometimes bigger than others and to make such a major boo-boo in front of millions of people is a horror story. The embarrasment alone will be enough of a punishment.

It was a busy match, the Croats were being so stroppy that its not surprising he got flustered. Anyone would. I want to know where were the other officials, why didn't one of them pop up to say, handball, rugby tackle on Viduka, you've booked that bloke before and haw pal - there was a good goal there just as you blew your whistle. There are four officials, surely one of the assistants noticed the mistakes?

Send him home - no. But don't allow him to officiate at the final either. Accept that people make mistakes and don't resort to a blame culture.

Refugee Week - Friday

Today I'm not going to focus on one particularly refugee who has made a difference to Britain. But instead the many thousands of "ordinary" people who do "ordinary" jobs and contribute to our country. The nurses, cleaners, shop-keepers, lawyers, accountants, businesspeople, journalists, authors, the 1,073 asylum seeker/ refugee doctors on the BMA database, scientists, the 1500 refugee teachers in the UK. And so many more.

Yes, there is a problem with unlimited immigration to the country. Yes, the South-East of England has too many houses and a lack of supporting infrastructure. Yes, asylum seekers who commit horrid crimes betray this country and the help they have received. BUT.

The vast majority of refugees who settle in Britain contribute to well-being of our country and we should focus on this and not the minority who shouldn't be here and try to approach the issue with a clear head.

Refugee Week - Thursday

Michael Marks came to Britain as a Russian born Polish refugee. In 1884 he opened his first stall at Leeds Kirkgate market. In 1894 he formed a partnership with Tom Spencer. That partnership Marks & Spencer launched one of Britain's most successful and respected brands and over the years has employed thousands of people.

Refugees to Britain aren't new - they've been coming to our country for centuries and have and will continue to create businesses and employment.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Louise Thirteen books on my shelf that I haven't read yet. 1. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown I held off for so long before buying it, but have to wait until I forget the film to read it. 2. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby A funny book about suicides? We'll see. 3. The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid I love Val McDermid. One of the best thriller authors in the world. 4. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver I've been told how brilliant this book is. 5. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens I love Dickens, but always seem to have a bit of trouble with this one. 6. Guilty Pleasures by Laurel K Hamilton A horror story about a vampire hunter. Hope it's not just a Buffy rip-off. 7. The Mysterious Mr Quin by Agatha Christie Possibly my favourite author, I have several of her books still to read. 8. Laidlaw by William McIlvaney A crime thriller set on the mean streets of Glasgow. 9. Indelible by Karin Slaughter I just discovered Karin Slaughter last year and would recommend her highly. Just not to the faint hearted. 10. An Act of Peace by Ann Widdecombe I've enjoyed Miss Widdecombe's books much more than I thought I would. Well written and sensitive. 11. When the Wind Blows by James Patterson I can take or leave Patterson. I prefer the Women's Murder Club books to the Alex Cross ones. I see this one going to a charity shop when I finish. 12. The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood. A birthday present from a year and a half ago. Will get round to it soon. 13. To Be The Best by Barbara Taylor Bradford The follow up to A Woman of Substance. I like trashy novels. There's about another 20 books that I've not read yet, perhaps when Thursday Thirty-Seven is launched we'll go through them all. Any reviews or suggestions of other books you think I might like would be welcome. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Natalie 2. Carmen 3. Kailani 4. Elle 5. PatentPrincess

6. Scouser

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Summer Solstice

Today is the summer solstice and the great unwashed masses are loitering around Stonehenge as always. I don't "get" Stonehenge, I don't understand why people are so fussed about it.

Perhaps my bitterness comes from having to drive past the damn thing everytime I go to Somerset to visit the in-laws. The A303 should be a dual carriageway and it isn't, partly because of Stonehenge's proximity to the road. If that wasn't bad enough, people always slow down to have a gawk.

But, worse to come. Driving past the bloody thing on Sunday when all the camper vans were wending their way there was not fun. 40 minutes to drive 5 miles.

Knock it down.

Refugee Week - Wednesday

Peter Paduh won the award for Young Business Person of the Year in 2005. This is an award which celebrates the drive and talent shown by young business people. Peter came to the UK from Bosnia in 1993 and ten years later set up Maxitech.biz which recycles and reuses IT and equipment.

More on Peter can be found here

Story and image from the Refugee Week website.

Refugee Week - Tuesday

Elvis Ndhuhkire is a Ugandan citizen seeking asylum in the UK. In 2005 Elvis received a Year of the Volunteer award for his work with the Refugee Council and St George's Crypt Leeds for the homeless.

More details on Elvis and his work can be found here and his point about asylum seekers not being allowed to work is one that is worthy of further debate.

(Image and story shamelessly lifted from the Refugee Week website)

Helmets

Sometimes regulation is a good thing....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/18/helmet.law.ap/index.html

Refugee Week

Today marks the start of Refugee Week.

Hopefully we will see some positive news stories about the benefits many refugees and immigrants have brought to Britain, rather than the usual bad news stories.

Many immigrants, many of whom have been refugees from conflict, famine, human rights abuses and extreme poverty have added to the cultural, political, economic wellbeing of our country. They should be welcomed not castigated.

Each day this week (if I remember!!!) I will highlight one immigrant's own positive story.

Ben Helfgott is a Holocaust Survivor who came to Britain in 1945. Ben is the only known concentration camp survivor who competed in an Olympic Games and captained the British weightlifting teams in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics.

Ben now dedicates his time to furthering the cause of the Holocaust Remembrance and Education.

Ben Helfgott's Story

Megan's Law/Sarah's Law

The Home Secretary's pronouncements that we may be adopting our own version of Megan's Law here in England concerns me. I hope that Gerry Sutcliffe's fact finding trip to America is a genuine fact-finding one and that he will listen to all sides of the srgument.

It seems to me that the Home Office is in such a shambles at the moment that John Reid is making a series of announcements designed to please the tabloid mob, rather than genuinely protect public safety.

I have real problems with Megan's Law, or Sarah's Law as it will be known here. Does letting parents know where sex offenders live protect children? If there is imperical evidence that it does then I would support it, it just seems to me that it can't be proved. More than 80% of child sex abuse victims are targeted by family members or family friends - this new law will do nothing to protect them. Paedophiles will go to where children are - this list will simply send them out of their own areas to look for victims. It will also increase the likliehood of recently released criminals going underground and out of contact with their parole officers.

We'll also have the spectacle of the mob hounding people out of their homes because they have a name like someone on the list - God help all the innocent John Smiths out there. And the paediatricians and podiatrists? They're just asking for it with a name like that.

I would rather see much tougher sentences in the first place with the option of NEVER releasing convicted child sex offenders if they are deemed to still pose a risk.

But where does it stop? I don't have children but the thought of a rapist living next door isn't appealing to me, nor frankly is the idea of a convicted violent robber or house-breaker.

Better that the Home Office concentrate on amending existing legislation, abolishing automatic right of release after half a sentence is served and the third of a tariff being knocked off for pleading guilty. Ensure that the public are secure in their trust of sentencing and probation and you won't have to resort to these ridiculous headline grabbing efforts.

It's Thuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrsday

Thirteen Things about Louise



The Musicals
1 Les Miserables - the best stage musical ever
2 Singin' In The Rain - the best film musical ever!

3 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
4 Calamity Jane
5 Moulin Rouge - brought the movie musical screaming into the 21st century
6 Annie
7 West Side Story
8 Evita - both the stage and movie version, Madonna doesn't disappoint
9 Jesus Christ Superstar
10 Oklahoma - Hugh Jackman made a wonderful Curly
11 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - Pharoah as Elvis. Pure Genius
12 Miss Saigon
13 Pirates of Penzance - more operetta than musical, but still deserving.

And the one I don't like - South Pacific, don't know why but it just leaves me cold.



Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Carmen

2. Wystful 1
3. Mary
4. Kelly
5. Friday's Child
6. Pixie Princess Mom
7. Lady Jane

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Camping!!!

We are going camping at the weekend! Me - the girl who thinks anything less than 5 star is slumming it.

What's the betting that the only part of Britain to be rained upon this week will be Cornwall and I'm sitting in a tent the whole time. Have warned that if we come back next week and have hated camping then the whole set-up is going on E-Bay. Still - I intend to enjoy. Last holiday I had was last July and since then have lost my job, moved house, had two close family members die, my husband has left his job. Is it any wonder I need a break. Would rather be going back to the Caribbean.

We're thinking about Aruba later in the year. Any info out there?

Another Thursday, Another Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Louise My favourite music 1 Billy Joel - and I'm going to see him on 10th July. YAY 2 The Beautiful South 3 Deacon Blue 4 Les Miserables - the 10th Anniversary Concert is especially good 5 Elton John 6 Ella Fitzgerald 7 Frank Sinatra 8 Kirsty MacColl 9 Madonna 10 The Planets - Gustav Holst 11 Otis Redding 12 The Beatles 13 Rick Astley - was one of my first ever crushes Links to other Thursday Thirteens! leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here! 1. Cheryl 2. Fated Hearts 3. Tricia 4. Lady Daria 5. Chaotic Mom 6. Scouser 7. Red 8. Tanya 9. Wystful1 10 Moogie 11 Cheeky 12 Ardice 13 K T Cat 14 Moonlight 15 Reverberate58 16 Twiga 92 17 Jennifer Sprague 18 Chi 19 Lisa 20 Melli 21 Emily Rose Jewel 22 Pink Chihuhua Princess 23 Dawn 24 Yellow Rose 25 Cristie 26 Janet 27 Sonya 28 tnchick 29 txsoapmom 30 Lifecruiser 31 Friday's Child 32 Undercover Angel 33 Liberty Belle

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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The Foreign Prisoners Scandal

The Government have, rightly, come in for a lot of criticism about the scandal of foreign prisoners being released from prison and not being deported. There is a case to be argued about how dreadful this is and how we shouldn't be letting foreign criminals loose onto the streets of Britain. It's an excellent case, particularly in the case of illegal immigrants and people whose application for asylum has either not yet been heard or turned down. In these cases I have no doubt that the criminals should be forced to serve their FULL sentences in a British jail then be returned to their country of origin.

But I have a few misgivings about just automatically throwing foreign criminals out of the country. It just seems too easy, too obviously a sop to the mob.

If someone has been given indefinite leave to remain, or even British citizenship, then they can't just be thrown out for committing a crime. People do commit crimes, make mistakes and it is right that they should be punished for it. The choice of punishment, however, should be made on legal grounds not political grounds, which expelling people from the country would be. There is no way that a criminal from the Sudan (for example) should be sent back there just to make Blair and Reid look tough.

There is a case in Scotland of a Cuban who has been in the country for 30 years having escaped with his family from political persecution. This man committed a crime and was jailed. By all accounts he was a good prisoner and has complied with all of his parole conditions. There is nothing to be gained from sending this man out of the country, other than ticking boxes about how many foreign criminals have been expelled.

Each case should be examined individually and many factors should be taken into account. I hope this is sorted out as soon as possible.

Brangelia

I can't stand this couple. Their latest piece of arrogance is that any foreign journalist wanting to enter Namibia must have their written permission.

Come on Namibian Government, I know the publicity will be good for your tourist industry, but tell this arrogant pair to get tae... (as we say in Glasgow).

I am a celebrity junkie, I love reading about the lifes of celebs, but come on. This couple actually believe all their own publicity.

It's Thursday Again....

Thirteen Things about Louise Thirteen Films I Love. These are the films that I can, and do, watch over and over again and never get bored. 1. It's A Wonderful Life - every time I hear a bell ring, I think of the angel getting their wings. 2. North by Northwest - possibly Cary Grant's greatest film 3. Singin In The Rain 4. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 5. Calamity Jane - ok, I love musicals. They are perfect Sunday afternoon viewing. 6. Die Hard - the best mindless action film of all time. Ideal popcorn fun. 7. Dirty Dancing - every girl my age loves this film. All it takes is I've had the time of my life to come on the radio and everyone in the office starts quoting from the film. 8. Pretty Woman. 9. Shooting Dogs - watch it, get sad, then get angry and find out what you can do about the situation in Darfur. 10. Harvey - I cry when Harvey stays behind and leaves Elwood, and Elwood knows why. 11. High Society - I know I shouldn't prefer it to The Philadelphia Story, but I do. 12. Independence Day - it's utterly preposterous, but's that part of the reason I love it. 13. West Side Story. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) Cheryl Natalie K T Cat Susan Nikki Mummy undercover angel Carmen Mandy Wystful1 Day by Day Amanda Laci Pixie Princess Mom Janet Mary Anneberit Tanya Susan Emily's Mom Anna EmilyRoseJewel Jessika Becky

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Brian Haw

I'm torn on this subject.

Brian Haw is the one-man anti-war protester who has been demonstrating outside Parliament for five years now. He sits in Parliament Square with metres of banners and shouts (a lot) about how wrong the war is. In response to Mr Haw's presence the Government brought in its shameful legislation banning unauthorised protests in a 1km square radius of Parliament. Yet another example of how this Labour Government is desperate to stifle opposition and freedoms in Britain today.

I believe it is a fundamental indicator of democracy how free the population are to speak out against the government, in Britain it's getting harder. We can't protest at our Parliament anymore, one woman was arrested just for reading names of soldiers killed in Iraq; if you speak out against the government in any way they will find a way of discrediting you - like the child abuse victim who was called "extremely disturbed" by government minister Margaret Hodge. Britain is sleepwalking into a loss of civil liberties and we don't seem to care.

But back to Brian Haw, his banners have been removed and they are still trying to get rid of him. And despite everything I said above, I'm really pleased. He is nothing more than a blot on the bloody landscape and a damn nuisance. I agree with most of his sentiments but really, one man with his shabby little tent and scraggy 40foot of banners isn't a protest, it's littering and vagrancy. Five years? Bugger off and get a job mate.

Surely Not True

Iain Dale's blog has a story today about Cherie Blair and Alistair Campbell signing a copy of the Hutton Report for auction at a Labour Party fundraiser.

One of the most shameful incidents of this sleazy Government's time in office and the Labour Party have reduced it to a jokey fundraising method.

Must be categorised under "Too Crass to be True", I just find difficulty in believing that it really happened.

For those who don't know all about Hutton, visit the BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2003/david_kelly_inquiry/

The Definition of Irony....

Raining non-stop since the imposition of a drought order.

Bloody water companies should sort out their leaks rather than worrying about whether or not I take a bath or a shower or whimpering about someone washing their car.

It's time that big businesses started to justify their massive profits. I have no problem with big profits, I think they are a good thing, but when a water company imposes strict rules on their customers and fails to sort out their own leaks which are surely more damaging to the water supply than Mrs Miggins watering her petunias, then there is no justification for such huge profits. Profits and dividends to share holders should be a reward for a job well done, not an automatic right, no matter how shoddy service is.

New Labour Book of Sleaze

From two of my favourite bloggers. Labour were puritanical about all forms of sleaze before their election in 1997. This will help to destroy the myth that they were EVER whiter-than-white.

Thursday Thirteen



Thirteen Things that I learned in Israel



1 You could never forget which country you were in, there are lots of flags flying from lamp-posts and cars.
2. Israeli taxi drivers driver VERY fast, frighteningly fast at times.
3. While talking on at last two mobile phones at a go.
4. Leaving is tougher than getting in - very tight security at Ben Gurion airport.
5. There are apparently only two decenet football stadia in the country, but I can't remember what they are.
6. The Dead Sea Scrolls aren't terribly exciting, just bits of really old paper.
7. Virtually everyone is conscripted into the Army at the age of 18.
8. The standard issue army weapon is the M-16.
9. There are lots of teenagers roaming the streets of Israel with M-16s, even when they are off-duty.
10. Every army recruit has to visit Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust museum.
11. Which means there are lots of impressionable children, with M-16s, who are have just learned about the worst atrocity committed against their people....
12. I never once felt unsafe.
13. The Garden of Gethsemene and the Church of the Holy Sepulchure were both very moving and helped to reaffirm a faith I didn't quite realise I still had.





Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
www.chaotichome.blogspot.com
http://lifran.blogspot.com/
http://www.kickass.4everlasting.com/
http://dariadonovan.blogspot.com/
http://wystful1.blogspot.com/
http://boringsonya.blogspot.com/
http://carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com/
http://lifeinthenhs.blogspot.com/
http://www.yellowrosesgarden.com/
http://grandmastreasures.blogspot.com/



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Morning of the Long Knives

The PM is desperately scrabbling about to try and save the last salvages of his government by sacking members of his Cabinet everywhere.

I think the biggest shock must be that Patricia Hewitt actually remains in her job. And sacking the Home Secretary, Chief Whip and Party Chairman - pretty influential people to have sniping from the backbenches.

My 4th Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about places I'd like to visit 1 New York - doesn't everyone? 2 Chicago - don't know why but I really fancy it. Must be ER that did it to me 3 Barbados - We got married there and I really want to go back 4 Australia - half my mum's family live there, it would be nice to meet the folks 5 Verona - and see Juliet's balcony 6 Athens - was never sure until the last Olympics, then I was blown away 7 Monte Carlo - break the bank then watch the Grand Prix 8 Prague - seems like the ideal place for a long weekend City Break 9 Las Vegas - and spend the whole time being really trashy 10 Falkland Islands - not just for the penguins, but that's a big draw 11 The Masaai Mara - at the wildebeeste migration 12 St Petersburg - in winter I think would be best 13 ... and I never want to visit Ibiza, never, never, never Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) Off to Israel next week so might be a tad tardy but everything will go out Visitors to this week's 13. http://carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com/ http://mtpeaceofmind.blogspot.com/ http://scratchpad7.blogspot.com/ http://www.5minutesformom.com/ http://daddysroses.blogspot.com/ http://sus4n.blogspot.com/ http://diaryofthenello.com/ http://moodswingcreations.com/blog/ http://personallyblessed.blogspot.com/

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen 3

Thirteen Things about things that make me rant.
Lot's of things upset me greatly, but these are the little niggly things that are bound to set me off in a ridiculous rant

1 Weather forecasts from outside. We don't need some idiot bint standing shivering in a field somewhere to tell us that it's cold. We know. Stop sending weather forecasters outside - this is especially aimed at BBC Breakfast News
2 Tail-Gating Drivers. Really there's no need to drive so close to me. It's rude, it's aggressive and I'll just drive slower until you back off buddy.
3. Cyclists. Not all cyclists, some are great. But there is a certain number of them who seem to think the roads are their private kingdoms. Use hand signals, stick to the side of the road and for the love of all that is good and proper, don't drive three abreast on a country lane. And start paying road tax.
4. ID Cards. Why do I need a piece of plastic with all my biometric data on some computer somewhere? Don't give me the "if you're not guilty of anything, you've got nothing to hide" codswallop. If you are an innocent person why should you have to answer for your legal actions. Government's should be accountable to the people, not Vice Versa!
5. Bloody Vegetarians. Ok, ok, you've made a health/moral choice and I accept that. Just don't ram it down my throat. Whenever you have a vegetarian over for a meal they make a big thing of making sure you know their preferences. Next time I go to a vegetarian's for a meal they'll know that my preference is a nice juicy, rare steak.
6. Rude Shop Assistants. Is it so hard to say please and thank you? I know what it's like to work in a busy supermarket on a Saturday afternoon when everyone is a bit frazzled. But I always said please and thank you, and that's all I expect.
7. Bird Flu. Don't get me wrong, I believe that it exists, but really, why are we all in such a flap about it? It has killed what 200 people across the world. 200 out of 6 BILLION. I'm more worried about normal flu, or AIDS, or the growth of the measles because parents have refused to have their kids vaccinated. Let's get a little perspective here please.
8. Furry Letterboxes. Political campaigners will be with me on this one. When you are trying to deliver leaflets and letterboxes have a furry draught excluder on them which makes it impossible to pop a leaflet through them.
9. Smug Celebrities. Everyone is entitled to their views, everyone is entitled to tell us their views. Celebrity endorsement is great for raising attention to difficult causes. But we don't have to take the words of celebrities as the gospel. It isn't it is their opinion. And having your baby in Africa does nothing to alleviate poverty Angelina Jolie. Bugger off and leave the Namibians alone.
10. American Spellings. Nothing wrong with that in America. I'm not in America though and we use s's not z's here. It's organisation in Britain. And the funny thing with the dates doesn't cut it either, 1st December is 1/12 not 12/1. (Sorry to all the Americans who visit, I do love your country but not this aspect invading British life).
11. My Own Clumsiness. There's only so often you can hit yourself on the head with a phone without getting annoyed with yourself.
12. People Who Call at 5.05pm. Come on guys, it's five past five. I need to leave in five minutes to catch my train. Is it really so important that it can't wait til tomorrow at 9? And then I get mad at myself for answering the damn phone.
13. Pete Doherty. The guy should be in jail, or a serious rehab programme. Stop letting him get away with numerous criminal acts and get the guy some help. We're just sending out the signal that it's ok to be a junkie criminal as long as the media think you're a bit of a lad. It isn't, he's ill and he needs help.

Thankfully that's the 13 or I'll turn myself into a little tasmanian devil like ball of fury.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
1. www.carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com
2.http://www.futurelines.blogspot.com/
3. http://lostlexie.blogspot.com/
4. http://titaniumslist.blogspot.com/
5. http://lillyput.blogspot.com/
6. http://amyrowden.blogspot.com/
7. http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/
8. http://purplegiraffes.blogspot.com/
9. http://mamakellysmusings.blogspot.com/
10. http://www.absolutelyaverage.com/

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

My BBFC Rating

My life has been rated:
See what your rating is!
Created by Bart King

Fab. I think it's the fact that I'm a sweary beastie that puts me right up there.

Hat tip: Jo Salmon

I'm Baffled

Fair enough, that's a fairly regular state of mind for me. Things baffle me on a regular basis. But I am now totally baffled. A barrister has admitted filming up girls' skirts for the purpose of collecting and cataloguing the images. Yet the judge orders that he be found not guilty. I admit, I'm no legal expert, but it seems to me that he should be found guilty of SOMETHING, I don't know what, but that isn't normal behaviour and shouldn't be treated as such.

His defence, and a spectacularly succesful one at that, was that his family like collecting things. So do mine, when I was a kid I collected rubbers (the eraser kind!) and now I like bookmarks from where-ever I visit, my mum likes little china thimbles and my dad collects paper-knifes. Darren collects ceramic piggy banks. These are normal (if geekish) collections, it is not normal to collect video-taped images of up girls skirts.

Perhaps there's a good legal reason, but I'd love to hear it. I may have to start collecting money from banks. My family has a tradition of liking to count money.

Read more here and let me know if you can ease my bafflement.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4948200.stm

Labour's Bad Day

A ridiculously bad day for the Labour Party.

First we have the lingering story of the crisis in the NHS. (Crisis? What Crisis?), yesterday we found out all about the foreign criminals roaming the streets (it's great, two Daily Mail hatreds in the one story), and now today John Prescott's affair(s?) come to light.

The first two are definitely resigning issues, Patricia Hewitt doesn't think it matters that thousands of NHS staff are losing their jobs and Charles Clarke just doesn't know anything that is going on. There are serious departmental and leadership failures in two of the most important departments of government and the Ministers are refusing to accept their responsibilty.

I don't think John Prescott has to resign over his affairs. I don't believe that infidelity is a resigning issue, although I do take on board the argument that if you ask the country to trust you, you must be trustworthy. But I don't fully agree. An affair is an issue for a couple to deal with. There is part of me however that is feeling smug, this is the man who lambasted the Conservative Party pre 1997 for being sleazy. He used Steve Norris as an example of the sleaze of the Tory Party, while (allegedly) being a well known serial adulterer. When Greenpeace invaded his roof and Chumbawumba chucked water over him, he screamed blue murder because of how it had upset Pauline. He's a nasty little hypocrite and I hope his wife leaves him. And takes the Jags.

London Marathon

Went up to London for the Marathon today. Now have sore legs, feet, back and about two and a half hours in I started to feel dizzy. And I was only spectating!!!

I really enjoyed it, maybe one year I'll do it myself. Just have to lose about 3 stone before I start training, but the Krispy Kreme doughnuts won't help.

Congratulations to everyone who ran, particularly Reigate Councillor Andy Mountney and Professor David Cesarani.

A Mixed Day

Very mixed day today.

A couple of sparrows flew into the living room window, one of the poor little things died instantly and his mate was knocked out. I got very upset and cried like a baby, and cried and cried. I'm not a particularly religious person but I do get upset when one of God's creatures dies. Darren boxed up the lady sparrow to take her to the local wildlife centre, but before they got there she started flapping around the car. When he opened the car window she flew off. Here's hoping that she only stunned herself briefly and will now be ok.

I renewed my tax disc online. Yay. So easy and saved me from being late again renewing. I love it when life is made easier.

Happy Birthday

Today is Her Majesty's 80th Birthday.

Would just like to add my best wishes and thanks to a wonderful Monarch who has worked hard for our country for so long.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things that I would like to do 1 Learn the violin 2 Learn to scuba dive 3 And then dive in the Caribbean 4 Write a novel published... 5 And have it published 6 Spend New Year in New York 7 Learn to ride a horse 8 Learn the Salsa 9 Celebrate my 50th Wedding Anniversary (only 47 1/2 years to go) 10 Own our own home 11 Be able to afford a really gorgeous designer dress... 12 And be able to fit into it 13 See a great musical on Broadway Most of these I should be able to do something about, I'm just too lazy. Perhaps this time next year I will come back and see what's been done about them. Of all 13 I'm only working towards 2, I've been learning the violin for about two months, and I'm working happily on number 9. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) http://purplegiraffes.blogspot.com/ http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/ http://chaotichome.blogspot.com/ http://wystful1.blogspot.com/ http://treasureofjewels.blogspot.com/ http://bellis.blogon.com/ http://tnchick.com/ http://reverberate58.blogspot.com/ http://www.urbanmummy.com/journal/ http://bellis.blogon.com/ http://daddysroses.blogspot.com/ http://skittles101373.blogspot.com/ http://featherstickle.blogspot.com/ http://lilwalnutbrain.blogspot.com/ http://a-blog-4-chilady.blogspot.com/ www.ardice.net http://ktcatspost.blogspot.com/ http://carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com/ http://blogjem.blogspot.com/ http://plotsblog.blogspot.com/ http://akaenigma.blogspot.com/ http://amyrowden.blogspot.com/ GoofyGirl.org. http://lathemlunacy.blogspot.com/ http://mommy-at-home.blogspot.com/ http://lifeinthenhs.blogspot.com/ http://prevailinginsanity.blogspot.com/ http://nellysdiary.blogspot.com/ http://snaphappymom.blogspot.com/ http://ahumbleheart.org/blog/ http://kidzoo.blogspot.com/

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

State Funerals

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith is campaigning for the last veteran of World War I to be granted a state funeral. I get the idea behind it, and anything that we can do to honour sacrifices is a good thing. I just don't agree with this plan.

How do we know who the last veteran will be? There aren't any lists that could be regarded as 100% reliable. And are we wishing away the lives of these old men?

Several families have said they wouldn't want this intrusion at a time of private grief. A country can't decide how someone should be remembered.

State Funerals are huge events, only one non-Royal has had a State Funeral, ever, and that was Winston Churchill. We shouldn't really open this up further or there will be a never-ending clamour for different groups to have a state funeral - last WWII survivor, last Holocaust Survivor, victims of terrorist attacks at home or abroad, soldiers killed now in the Gulf, any and every politician. I just think there lies a risk that the special-ness of the State Funeral could be cheapened if this proposal were to be accepted.

And what would happen if the last veteran to pass away turned out to be a thoroughly unpleasant bloke? I don't want to pass judgement on anyone who is still with us, but surely not all veterans have been law-abiding throughout their lives. Will there be a moral judgement on the last veteran? Should there be? I don't know and that is the problem with this suggestion. Too many variables, too many questions that we can't know the answers to.

Let's look at another way of honouring all our veterans of past and present conflicts. Let's also look at honouring their lives today and not their deaths by ensuring excellent standards of care home and hospital care for all our pensioners. That would be a real memorial.

I've Been Tagged

Wystful 1 has tagged me. Which means I have to come up with six weird things about myself. Which I'm happy to share with the blogosphere.

1. Like Wystful, I love the smell of coffee but hate the taste. In fact, I don't like tea either.
2. I was a Young Conservative in North Glasgow - that was weird.
3. I get cold really easily, even on warm days but when I visited Auschwitz in -5 degrees I wasn't cold at all
4. My knuckles are non-existent. When I form a fist there are just tiny little bumps, but when my hand is flat there are little indents where the knuckles should be
5. I am really clumsy - on an average day I will bump into doors, stub my toe, hit my head with the phone etc about 5 or 6 times
6. I like visiting cemetaries and imagining the lives of the people buried there based only on their gravestones (I don't like new cemetaries, or gravestones of young people - just older cemetaries)

I'm not going to tag anyone this time, because I'm feeling a bit too lazy. But do leave your comments about how weird you are.

My New Puppy

We are considering adopting a dog from the local RSPCA centre once Darren starts working from home. And if our landlord allows us to. We went yesterday and I fell in love with one little cutie called Buster. A real mutt, but utterly adorable, I was really upset leaving him in the horrid little prison cell he was in (no offence to RSPCA who do a great job, but dogs shouldn't live in cages).

In the meantime I have adopted a virtual pet from somewhere or other - link in the sidebar.

I'd rather have a real one though. If you want a cute dog and we can't get him, do give Buster a look. He's at Millbrook in Surrey and he is adorable.

Roland

The rat is called Roland, apparently. We are going to get a humane trap and release him onto the common tomorrow. I hope, it could be that he becomes a family mascot before then.

He is quite cute as you can see.

Unwelcome Guest

My husband, Darren, is in the process of setting up his own photography business, specialising in wildlife photography. As he is still working a lot of his work at the moment is based in our garden and he has taken some wonderful bird shots. We have tried to make our garden as welcoming to birds as possible, with a lovely table, seed holders, fat cakes... Everything the average British garden bird would want. We also put out bread. And that it would appear is our mistake. We have our first rat now invading the garden, stealing the bread. I don't like rats, I don't want a rat in our garden. But - his agent has very few rat photos and this is the ideal opportunity. And, much as I hate to admit it, the little fellow is quite cute - in a filthy, disease ridden way.

So what do we do?

(Not our rat!)

Domestic Violence

It's very likely that sentencing for Domestic Violence offences in England and Wales will soon be downgraded and that if the man shows genuine contrition then he'll be sentenced to a community order rather than prison.

This has wound me up immensley and I have been intending to write about this for a while, but I found a letter in the Daily Telegraph which sums up all my arguments:

Sorry is too easy

Sir -

It is only in the past decade that domestic violence (News, April 12) has been recognised for what it is, a crime that has far-reaching effects on both the victim and children. It would be a retrograde step if the sentencing guidelines encouraged the courts to regard signs of remorse as a means of avoiding a custodial sentence. Many victims have discovered, with the benefit of hindsight, that an apparently genuine display of remorse has been little more than a coldly calculated means of avoiding punishment. The perpetrators are often skilled at emotionally manipulating their victims and at convincing themselves that, if no charge has been made, no crime has been committed. The violence, whether physical, mental or emotional, is usually the result of a deep-rooted personality disorder, which it is unlikely that a domestic violence programme will cure. Punishment is the only way that offenders can be forced to face the seriousness of their behaviour and it is essential they then receive the appropriate medical help if they are not to reoffend.

Anne Wells, Reading, Berks

Well done to Anne Wells for saying exactly what I was thinking, and probably much better than I could.

Let's remember though that while women are the largest group of victims of Domestic Violence, men are affected and its a problem in the gay community too. All victims deserve protection and all perpetrators need punishment and/or treatment.

Moray By-Election

The Moray by-election to elect a replacement for the late, much missed Margaret Ewing will be held on 27 April and the handbags are coming out. The SNP are accusing the Conservatives of playing dirty by claiming that Mary Scanlon is the natural successor to Margaret.

I must admit to having some feelings of unease about some of the language in the Conservative material that has been published on the website. It does seem that the tactics employed by Mark McInnes (in charge of the Scottish Conservatives, still behaves like a YC) are slightly distasteful. You know the kind of thing - Margaret was a dear friend, I want to be just like Margaret, I'll be a bonnie fechter for Moray. Nothing wrong as such and just ever so slightly nauseating. I hope she loses, I hope she loses big and that her arrogance in giving up her seat in the Scottish Parliament will be repaid in spades.

And just for the record - even if she was a good friend of Margaret, Margaret would still want her to lose.

Shock, Horror, Labour Bloggers

I'm linking to some blogs by Labour hacks. Not because I agree with them, but all three are consistently entertaining and quite often thought-provoking.

I especially enjoy Antonia Bance, half the time I nod sagely in agreement and half the time I grumble about just how wrong she is on the world. The truth as usual is probably somewhere in between our beliefs.

But enjoy all three...

My First Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Louise - Books I Love I do wonder if I should have more high-brow stuff on the list. But these are the books I would read on the plane, so that's what counts. 1. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee 2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (The best of series) - JK Rowling 3. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens 4. Death on the Nile - Agatha Christie 5. I'll Take Manhatten - Judith Krantz 6. The Plot Against America (new favourite) - Philip Roth 7. Sunset Song - Lewis Grassic Gibbons 8. Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery 9. The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Alison Weir 10. Rivals - Jilly Cooper 11. All Creatures Great & Small - James Herriott 12. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult 13. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin As it's my first ever Thursday Thirteen I'm just trawling to see whose 13's I like and randomly adding them. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! http://www.wheelchairprincess.com/blog/ http://divablogging.com/2006/04/13/thursday-thirteen-diva-style/ http://aginoth.blogspot.com/ http://personallyblessed.blogspot.com/ http://kidzoo.blogspot.com/ (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Labour Woes In Essex

This from the Southend Echo:

"THE Labour Party has been left without election candidates in five Southend Council wards after a freak theft.
Nomination papers for next month's elections were stolen from the back seat of a car minutes before they were to be submitted.
One of the wards the party is now unable to contest is Prittlewell, where Ian Gilbert had been selected to challenge council leader Anna Waite.
Mr Gilbert, 27, who was Labour's youngest candidate, said: "I was looking forward to fighting on local issues in an important election."
The papers were stolen from the back seat of a car belonging to Southend West constituency secretary Ron Kennedy, who had stopped in Tintern Avenue, Westcliff, to get signatures from two party members before handing the forms in at the Civic Centre."

Oh dear, oh dear. I can't help feeling a little sorry for poor Mr Kennedy, this is the stuff of nightmares for all election agents. But why in the name of all that is holy did he wait til just before close of nominations before putting in his papers?

This is a game that I've known to be played lots - hold your nominations off til the last minute then word won't get out who your candidate in X ward is. Or he may have waited til the last minute before starting expenses. Either way it worked out badly for the Labour Party.

I always liked to get my nominations in early - just in case disasters struck. Thankfully they never did.

Hat Tip: Labour Watch

Prince Harry & The Stripper

The tabloids are full of the latest Royal Family scandal. Prince Harry took a trip to Spearmint Rhino with some of his mates. Big deal! Some young blokes in the army went to a lap dancing club - why is this in the papers? Why do we need to know - and why in the name of god did the BBC have to spend listen payers money getting people into a studio to debate the situation.

I do think that our Royal Family, who do enough to damage to their own image on their own, do come in for a lot of crap that they really don't deserve. Leave them alone unless they actually do something newsworthy.

Hail Hail!

Celtic have won the title.

Am a very happy bunny.

Commander-in-Chief

Watched the new political drama from the US which has everyone abuzz.

Is it softening up the ground for a Hillary/Condi presidency or is it just a new spin on an old formula? Is the black Chief of Staff a hint for Hillary to pick Barack Obama as her running mate?

Anyway, the programme...

Didn't have the sparkle of The West Wing, but spent an hour pleasantly enough.